Monthly Archives: February 2017

Eye transplants have long been attempted unsuccessfully. Doctors are taking what they’ve learned in hand transplants, especially in nerve regeneration, and applying it to eye transplant development. Experts discuss what need to be accomplished to make transplants a reality.

Eye transplants have long been attempted unsuccessfully. Doctors are taking what they’ve learned in hand transplants, especially in nerve regeneration, and applying it to eye transplant development. Experts discuss what need to be accomplished to make transplants a reality.

Women who’ve suffered a miscarriage and are trying to get pregnant again might want to think about taking a daily baby aspirin. A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism tested women who had lost a previous pregnancy and scored high for inflammation in the body. Researchers found that those who took a daily low dose aspirin were 31 percent more likely to become pregnant than women who took a placebo and 35 percent more likely to carry the baby to term. However, researchers say it’s too early to recommend aspirin to prevent pregnancy loss.

Statistics show that obese girls don’t do as well in school as their thinner counterparts. But a new study in the journal Sociology of Education finds that at least part of the difference may be due to discrimination on the part of their teachers. Researchers say even when they score the same on ability tests, obese white girls receive worse grades than their thinner peers.

And finally here’s one more thing to put on the list of things to never eat—snow. And it doesn’t matter what color the snow is. A study in the journal Environmental Science, Processes and Impacts finds that snow is remarkably efficient at absorbing particulate air pollution that you find in car exhaust. It’s like a sponge. So catching snowflakes with your tongue may not be as pure as we thought.

Antibiotic resistance may mean some infections are untreatable in the future. To combat this bacterial evolution, new federal rules went into effect on January 1 that restrict use of antibiotics in food animals, where the majority of US antibiotics are consumed. Critics worry the rules don’t go far enough. Experts on both sides of the issue discuss.

A major new study shows hearing loss is decreasing in the US. This has surprised some experts who’ve feared greater use of ear buds would lead to greater hearing loss in young people. Experts discuss why hearing loss is declining and caution against complacency.

Peanut allergies in children have skyrocketed to the point that many schools ban foods containing them. Now studies show previous advice is wrong. Rather than keeping kids away from peanuts to protect them, parents should give most infants peanuts from an early age. An allergy expert who is co-author of new guidelines explains.

Music thanatology is a specialized practice of playing harp music for the dying. A practitioner of the art explains how there is also science to it as well, and a woman whose family has used it describes her experience.